Archangel Uriel

The Archangel Uriel is one of the four leading archangels within traditional Orthodox Christian scripture. Uriel is commemorated together with the other archangels and angels with a feast day of the "Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers" on November 8 of the liturgical calendar.

The name Uriel in Hebrew can be translated to mean the "Light of God or the "Fire of God". As the main spiritual role of Archangel Uriel is that of the angel who guides the deceased during the Last Judgment, this has drawn the connection between Uriel and the "Raging Fire of God's Judgement". Uriel, also, is regarded as an angel with deep ties to the Earth and humanity, whereas the other archangels primarily fulfill duties in heaven.

Uriel appears often in early Orthodox Christian era art works, together usually with the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Until the early Middle Ages this representation of Uriel in Christian art along with Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael is that these four archangels were considered to be of the Seraphim class of angels. This representation appeared at that time in many works of art wherein the four archangels are seen surrounding the throne of God, usually with God in the center, or slightly elevated above the four archangels, a presentation that is not according to Orthodox theology.